Column: Forest health concerns

Published: Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 24, 2014 at 6:33 p.m.

Certainly one of the treasures of Western North Carolina is the abundant forests which cover the mountains and valleys of this area. These vast swaths of vegetation are among the most diverse in the U.S., consisting of mixed hardwood trees.

The scenic beauty of these forests adds much to the quality of our lives and is obviously a huge draw for many to move here. The forests are also important economic drivers of the region supporting tourism, outdoor recreation and other forestry-related jobs.

Unfortunately, there is some concern for the health of our forests. Exotic invasive pests (weeds, disease and insects) have caused the loss of many trees and led to a decline in the forest environment in some areas. Invasive weeds such as kudzu and oriental bittersweet aggressively climb and cover vegetation essentially choking them out.

A whole host of exotic insects have moved in to claim millions of trees, probably none more devastating than the hemlock wooly adelgid. This tiny, piercing, sucking insect mostly hidden underneath its characteristic cottony protection has wiped out huge stands of hemlocks in the last 10 years.

The chestnut blight, a disease that bore out the worst-case scenario of these exotic pests, eliminated the once-prominent American chestnut tree from southeastern forests a century ago. Although there is hope that newly bred disease-resistant trees can be re-established in our forests.

More threats from exotic pests are coming in all the time. A look at the U.S. Forest Service's Insect and Disease Risk Map for North Carolina is not encouraging, with high mortality rates of trees predicted for many areas in WNC from a variety of insects and disease.

Both the U.S. and N.C. Forest Services (as well as other agencies) are constantly monitoring these threats, and information on their websites is available to help us in the effort of detection.

Here are some of the new, emerging threats to our forests at this time. Thousand cankers disease was recently discovered in North Carolina after a decade of destruction in western states. The disease, which affects black walnut trees, is caused by a fungus carried by a small bark beetle. It is now concentrated around Great Smokey National Park.

The Emerald ash borer was discovered in the state last year. While adult beetles can be seen nibbling on the foliage of ash trees, it is the larva that causes mortality of the tree. They feed on the inner bark, thus preventing the transportation of water and nutrients throughout the tree.

Sudden Oak Death is a big concern because of the combination of the many native oaks which are known to be susceptible and for the cool, moist environmental conditions which would allow the pathogen to thrive. But at present it is not thought to be in the wild plant communities of North Carolina.

If you would like more information about the health of our forests, please come to a free program at Bullington Gardens on Jan. 29, 2:30-4 p.m. Brian Heath, a pest control specialist with the N.C. Forest Service, will focus on the three most recent threats listed above and will certainly be available for questions about others.

Although this program is free, please call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 to register.

<p>Certainly one of the treasures of Western North Carolina is the abundant forests which cover the mountains and valleys of this area. These vast swaths of vegetation are among the most diverse in the U.S., consisting of mixed hardwood trees. </p><p>The scenic beauty of these forests adds much to the quality of our lives and is obviously a huge draw for many to move here. The forests are also important economic drivers of the region supporting tourism, outdoor recreation and other forestry-related jobs.</p><p>Unfortunately, there is some concern for the health of our forests. Exotic invasive pests (weeds, disease and insects) have caused the loss of many trees and led to a decline in the forest environment in some areas. Invasive weeds such as kudzu and oriental bittersweet aggressively climb and cover vegetation essentially choking them out. </p><p>A whole host of exotic insects have moved in to claim millions of trees, probably none more devastating than the hemlock wooly adelgid. This tiny, piercing, sucking insect mostly hidden underneath its characteristic cottony protection has wiped out huge stands of hemlocks in the last 10 years. </p><p>The chestnut blight, a disease that bore out the worst-case scenario of these exotic pests, eliminated the once-prominent American chestnut tree from southeastern forests a century ago. Although there is hope that newly bred disease-resistant trees can be re-established in our forests. </p><p>More threats from exotic pests are coming in all the time. A look at the U.S. Forest Service's Insect and Disease Risk Map for North Carolina is not encouraging, with high mortality rates of trees predicted for many areas in WNC from a variety of insects and disease. </p><p>Both the U.S. and N.C. Forest Services (as well as other agencies) are constantly monitoring these threats, and information on their websites is available to help us in the effort of detection.</p><p>Here are some of the new, emerging threats to our forests at this time. Thousand cankers disease was recently discovered in North Carolina after a decade of destruction in western states. The disease, which affects black walnut trees, is caused by a fungus carried by a small bark beetle. It is now concentrated around Great Smokey National Park. </p><p>The Emerald ash borer was discovered in the state last year. While adult beetles can be seen nibbling on the foliage of ash trees, it is the larva that causes mortality of the tree. They feed on the inner bark, thus preventing the transportation of water and nutrients throughout the tree. </p><p>Sudden Oak Death is a big concern because of the combination of the many native oaks which are known to be susceptible and for the cool, moist environmental conditions which would allow the pathogen to thrive. But at present it is not thought to be in the wild plant communities of North Carolina. </p><p>If you would like more information about the health of our forests, please come to a free program at Bullington Gardens on Jan. 29, 2:30-4 p.m. Brian Heath, a pest control specialist with the N.C. Forest Service, will focus on the three most recent threats listed above and will certainly be available for questions about others.</p><p>Although this program is free, please call Bullington Gardens at 828-698-6104 to register.</p>